Air-volume control mechanism



Aug. 29, 1950 F. E. BRADY, JR

AIR-VOLUME CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTOR. Jim/v0.5 273mm); .TA,

BY 7 M 4% flr a/fwfzv Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I v I 2,520,794 v AIR-VOLUME CONTROL MECHANISM Francis E. Brady, J r., Muncie, Ind. Application August 16, 1946, Serial No. 691,077

1 This invention relates to' air volume control mechanism that is primarily adapted for incor-' poration in a hydro-pneumatic water supply system. v

' In the use of a hydro-pneumatic water supply system, it is essential that the air supplying means not only supplies the necessary air but that it will automatically cease supplying air when the proper amount ofair has been delivered to the tank.

According to this invention, a novel mechanism has been associated with a hydro-pneumatic water system for the purpose of supplying air and maintaining a, proper proportion of air and water in such system. a When the pump starts to operate there is a drop in pressure in the suction line creating a partial vacuum and then when it is stopped, the pressure back to the check valve in'the suction line builds up to tank pressure. The novel mechanism involving this invention utilizes this difference in pressure to introduce air into the system when needed to maintain the proper air cushion in the tank.

To this end there is provided an equalizing chamber connected by a restricted orifice with the tank, said chamber having a check valve controlled air inlet and a float controlled valve effected by the water level in the chamber for controlling its connection with the suction line to the pump whereby excess water will be drawn off and air admitted to take its place at a pre-' determined level.

One feature of the invention resides in the float controlled valve in association with a flexible valve seat for controlling the suction line in accordance with the water level in the chamber.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a float receiving well providing a water trap communicating through a ball check valve to the atmosphere, whereby air may be admitted when required but prevented from being drawn into the suction side of the pump.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the application of the control mechanism to a hydropneumatic water supply system.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the air-volume control mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the float actuated valve and valve seat.

In the drawings there is shown a water supply 3 Claims. (01. 103-6) non side connected. with the pipe system consisting of a storage tank lll'adapted 'to operate at a water level substantially at the dotted line I 1. Water is supplied to the tank by a centrifugal pump I2 driven by a. motor shaft l3extending 'from an electric motor 14 controlled in its operation by the switch box I5,

which in turn is controlled by the pressure in the tank, all as well known in'the art. The pump has its discharge side connected with the tank through the pipe connection l6 and has its sucl1 leading from the source of water supply.

The control mechanism comprises thehousing I8 enclosing 'the equalizing chamber l9, said housing having a base plate 20'; The housing is supported upon the side of the tank by the connecting fitting 2| at the desired water line level II to provide communication between the in-' terior of the tank and the pocket 22 which is connected with the pressure gage 23 and with the equalizing chamber [9 through a nipple having a restricted orifice 24.

The 'base plate 20 is formed with a downwardly extending boss 25 internally threaded "to receive the valve fitting 26. Said valve fitting is connected through the elbow 21 and pipe 28 with the suction side'of the pump l2. The boss 25 is provided with'a bore in which a bearing sleeve 29' is'mounted; s'aid'sleeve slidably supporting therein a plunger valve 30, the upper end of said sleeve having a hinge boss 3| and an upstanding guide arm 32 extending within the chamber [9. The plunger valve is pivotally supported upon a float. lever 33 .carrying a float 34 at one end, thereof and pivotedat the other end thereof by the pin 35 to the hinge boss 3|. The plunger valve has its connection with the float lever at a point slightly spaced from the pivotal support therefor.

Said base plate is provided with a water trap.

well 36 of a contour conforming to that of the float and into which the float is permitted to lie when in its lowermost position. The well 36 is in communication with the boss 25 at a level slightly above the lowermost point of the well as indicated at 31 for permitting passage of water to the suction pipe through apertures 38 in the bearing sleeve 29 when the valve is open.

An air vent 39 having a check valve is provided at the lower portion of the well 36, being controlled by a ball check valve 40 urged to closed position by the spring 4|. Said valve is provided with a flexible seat 42 comprising an apertured rubber disk held in position by an apertured cap 43 with its inner surface dished as indicated at 44 to permit flexing of the flexible valve seat 42. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 4, the plunger valve 30 has its lower end tapered as indicated at 45 to extend into and seat upon a flexiblevalve seat disk 46. The valve seat disk 46 is clamped in sealing relation with the boss 25 by the valve fitting 26 having its upper surface dished as indicated at 41 to permit flexing of the flexible valve seat,

Thus, both in respect. to the; balk check valve and the float controlled plunger valve, their respective flexible valve seats normally extend a flat plane for initial valve closing engagememt, while the dished surface of the cap 43 and' fitting 26, respectively, rigidly supports theflexlhle Valve; seats and their valves in their fllllclosing position, Thus, the flexible valve seats being permitted to flex or pulsate, the opening and closing action of the valves is extremely sensitive for closely c hth llng, he a r and. wa er level c hd lqn n the. ta k:

h hhq descri ed cqh rql me th smissuch that. upon. e liquid level in. th ank. heme hi h r an. h m ll. the iq d. wil 10w hate e ch mber 19 raisin heflch l w hh Qh hs th tall/12.30.. on the ump operating, the water will, h drawn past the. valve 311, mm. suc ion pine 281mm the cham er l l1zauhle hemat o r p, into. the well cl ing. the. ie e. 30-. As water isthus. dr wn fr m the Qhambeha part a as m. will be created therein sllgh, 9 draw all up; uardly hr u h he. ha valvet l tqfill. the

ch met 1 ahdqs nhlv air h llehtheher 2.4

to he tankv to repla e. the liquid, or wa er. drawn her i m by heuct on oi t eh lIlH- Q Q T he li u d; level. been thus. IQWQIQQ; t9. normal so t a howater can pass through por 1. to. the chamhen. he fij at wi l ave r pped, to. aposiuqh to clos he plunge valve .0-. B

l' estll l of. the. float'cohtm l he valve chest.

with a, quantity of liquid or; water remit,

he we l wh h. nrqv des avatar ree. re t. a r ine. r wn thr ugh he. a r 39 to; the. suc on sideo he hum hast. the.

he. t r so a. i will. e. ppa ent. tha a.

nove a rl e phtr l; m ch n sm. as... been. der s d, suc as, w llsu ply air. a d. ma ntain the proper. pr or icn Qt tq iaui l wat r 1212 2 andthroheh t e. h tatioh her operably connected with said valve, for moving;

it to open or closed position according to the water level in said chamber, a well provided at the bottom of said housing for receiving said float and having an air inlet in the lower por-. tion thereof, and a check valve in said inlet for admitting air to said chamber, said well forming a water trap for preventing air from being drawn into the suction side of said pump.

2. In a watersupplysystem, a, tank, a p p for supplying water to said. tank, means controlled by the'pressure in said tank for starting and stopping said pump, a fluidtight housing defining a chamber having a restricted connection with said tank at the desired water level therein, a, connection between the lower portion of said chamber and the suction side of said pump, a plunger valve for controlling said last mentioned connection, an actuating lever for said valve, a float in said chamber for controlling said lever accor i g to. th a er l relt n, a. w ll provided. the, bn om oi: sald s ng for r te v hs, said heat. a hav ng an, a r. n in. when. portion thereof; and a check valve in said air; inl tor. adm t ing. air. to said Chamber, said Well flQ f ll l a W e ap. f P v n m being drawn into the'suction connection with; h h mh- 3-. I a Wa er s p l sys a k, a pump for supplying water to said tank; means controlled by the pressure iIlSaidtank for starting and stopping said, pump, a fluidtight housing deea. chamber. ha mea alve controlled, a h et res r t edwhhett etw e d mber and tank at the desired water level therein, a bore in the lower portion of said chamber connecting said chamber with the suction side oi aid humpl a alv mc ntesl i Said a float n; said. hamb r. QQQQWY'WR w said: valvefor opening and closing; it according to the water level therein, a rigid fitting said bore haying, a depressed conical end surface, and a;

' flexible valve seat mounted across the end surface of-"said fitting-for initial seating engagement with said' valve upon closing and depressijble th reby into sealing; engagement with the; depressed surface of: said fitting E'RANGIS BRADY; JR.

m naanncss- GITED The; follo i g re ences ar of rec rd in. the;

of this patent;

UNITED STATES Number Name Date 2172,95? Burks l Sept 1939-. 2172399} Burks Sept; 5, 1939-; 2,183,421: radyn Dec; 12, 1-939 2; 22;l64- Gantor V Aug; 12'; 1941 1 2 421231 Bergh, May-27,1947 2;457",863' Bur-ks; Jan; 4, 1949 2; l79-,247 Matthews: AugI-G, 1949* 

